The Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, Mr. Philippe Douste-Blazy, leading a high powered delegation paid a working visit to the Force Headquarters of the African Union Mission in Sudan based in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

The delegation comprising of twenty members including H.E. Ambassador Henri de Coignac, French Special Envoy to the Sudan Peace Process, was received upon their arrival by the Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Hassan Gibril, accompanied by the Deputy Froce Commander, General Frank Kamanzi and the CIVPOL Commissioner, Daniel Moeyana.

In his welcoming remarks Ambassador Hassan Gibril applauded the French Minister on his second visit to Darfur this year, which is an indication of the special interest the government of France is according to the African Union Mission in Sudan, the situation in Darfur and the ongoing efforts geared to achieving lasting peace in Sudan.

He further applauded the constant support by the government and the people of France to the African Union and the AMIS troops aimed at reaffirming their unwavering commitment to the search for a speedy end to the long suffering of the populations of the Darfur region.

The French delegation had the opportunity to be briefed on the prevailing security and humanitarian situations in the region.

From the military perspective, they were informed that the general security situation was stable in most parts except for frequent clashes among parties in some areas of Darfur, especially in the North.

On the humanitarian situation, the preoccupation was to be able to safely cater for the needy on the populations living in the camps for the internally displaced people.

The French delegation visited the Kassab Camp, situated in Kutum, Sector 6 of the AMIS area of operation, a camp which has an estimated population of 23,000 people.The main concern as, Minister Douste-Blazy was informed, remains the unstable security situation in the area.